Page 6

Geoffrey Chaucer. (c. 1340–1400) (continued)

He helde about him alway, out of drede,
A world of folke.

Troilus and Creseide. Book iii. Line 1721.

One eare it heard, at the other out it went. 1

Troilus and Creseide. Book iv. Line 435.

Eke wonder last but nine deies never in toun. 2

Troilus and Creseide. Book iv. Line 525.

I am right sorry for your heavinesse.

Troilus and Creseide. Book v. Line 146.

Go, little booke! go, my little tragedie!

Troilus and Creseide. Book v. Line 1798.

Your duty is, as ferre as I can gesse.

The Court of Love. Line 178.

The lyfe so short, the craft so long to lerne, 3
Th’ assay so hard, so sharpe the conquering.

The Assembly of Fowles. Line 1.

For out of the old fieldes, as men saithe,
Cometh al this new corne fro yere to yere;
And out of old bookes, in good faithe,
Cometh al this new science that men lere.

The Assembly of Fowles. Line 22.

Nature, the vicar of the Almightie Lord.

The Assembly of Fowles. Line 379.

O little booke, thou art so unconning,
How darst thou put thy-self in prees for drede?

The Flower and the Leaf. Line 59.

Of all the floures in the mede,
Than love I most these floures white and rede,
Soch that men callen daisies in our toun.

Prologue of the Legend of Good Women. Line 41.

That well by reason men it call may
The daisie, or els the eye of the day,
The emprise, and floure of floures all.

Prologue of the Legend of Good Women. Line 183.

For iii may keep a counsel if twain be away. 4

The Ten Commandments of Love.

Note 1.
Went in at the tone eare and out at the tother.—John Heywood: Proverbes, part ii. chap. ix. [back]

Note 2.
This wonder lasted nine daies.—John Heywood: Proverbes, part ii. chap. i. [back]

Note 3.
Ars longa, vita brevis (Art is long: life is brief).—Hippocrates: Aphorism i. [back]

Note 4.
Three may keepe counsayle, if two be away.—John Heywood: Proverbes, part ii. chap. v. [back]

Contents -AUTHOR INDEX -CONCORDANCE INDEX -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD